Skip to main content
Glama

search_trials

Search clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov by condition, intervention, sponsor, status, or phase. Returns trial IDs, titles, status, phases, conditions, interventions, enrollment, and locations count.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNoNumber of results (max 20)
phaseNoTrial phase: PHASE1, PHASE2, PHASE3, PHASE4
statusNoTrial status: RECRUITING, COMPLETED, ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING, NOT_YET_RECRUITING, TERMINATED
sponsorNoSponsor name (e.g. "Pfizer", "NIH", "Mayo Clinic")
conditionNoDisease or condition (e.g. "diabetes", "breast cancer", "alzheimer")
interventionNoDrug, device, or intervention (e.g. "metformin", "pembrolizumab")

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. First observed

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations provided. Description does not disclose pagination, rate limits, error handling, or behavior when no parameters or results. Only states output fields without behavioral specifics.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, front-loaded with action and scope, efficient and clear.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Covers basic purpose and return fields, but lacks details on pagination, default filters, sorting, and empty results behavior. No annotations to fill gaps.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100% with descriptions for each param. Description adds meaning by summarizing output fields (IDs, titles, etc.), which compensates for lack of output schema. Does not elaborate on format or constraints beyond schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Clearly states it searches clinical trials by multiple criteria and returns key fields. Differentiates from get_trial_details (single trial) and get_trial_stats (aggregates).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Lists searchable dimensions (condition, intervention, etc.), implying usage context. Lacks explicit when-not or alternatives, but sibling differentiation is clear.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Try in Browser

Glama MCP Gateway

Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose: searching for trials, getting detailed info on a specific trial, and obtaining statistics. No overlap in functionality.

Naming Consistency5/5

All tool names follow a consistent verb_noun snake_case pattern: get_trial_details, get_trial_stats, search_trials.

Tool Count5/5

Three tools is an appropriate scope for a clinical trials server, covering search, details, and statistics without being too few or too many.

Completeness4/5

The set covers the main operations: search, details, and statistics. However, some potential gaps exist, such as a tool to list all trials by sponsor or location, though search can approximate these.

Resources